IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Oct 26:
Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy, is on an official visit to India, as part of Golden jubilee of India’s victory in war against Pakistan in 1971, called on Indian Chief of Army staff General MM Naravane on Monday.
Both the officers exchanged views on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. The Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal will be in India till October 29, during which he will interact with high ranking Government of India officials.
At New Delhi, Admiral Iqbal will interact with the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh. During the bilateral interactions, issues related to joint cooperative efforts like Coordinated Patrol along International Maritime Boundary Line, bilateral exercise “Bongosagar”, conduct of naval training and reciprocal visits of delegations would be discussed.
On completion of engagements in Delhi, he is scheduled to visit Mumbai, where he will meet Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and visit Flagship of Western Naval Command. On completion of Mumbai visit, the Admiral would proceed to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington to witness training activities and interact with Commandant, DSSC.
India and Bangladesh share bonds of history, language, culture and multitudes of other commonalities. The excellent bilateral ties reflect an all- encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding, that goes beyond strategic ties. India and Bangladesh are jointly celebrating Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Victory in Bangladesh Liberation War and 1971 War this year.
A host of joint activities have been conducted which include reciprocal ship visits by both Navies and participation in Republic Day Parade 2021 at New Delhi by Bangladesh Armed Forces Contingent and gifting of war memorabilia. During the last quarter of 2021, conduct of talks by Bangladesh war veterans at Naval War College and Indian Naval Academy and participation of Indian Armed Forces contingent and Band in ‘Victory Day Celebrations’ in Bangladesh are planned.
DefExpo 2022
In another development Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the Ambassadors’ Round Table for “DefExpo 2022” a defence expo to be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat between March 10-13, 2022, on Monday.
More than 200 delegates, including Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and Defence Attaches attended the Round Table, reflecting the growing global interest in the Indian Defence space. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Raj Kumar and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence & Government of Gujarat were also present.
Inviting the foreign delegates to attend DefExpo 2022, Asia’s largest defence exhibition, Singh said, India is open to conduct business on a mutually beneficially collaborative basis, in the spirit of give and take, for all-round welfare of everyone. He exuded confidence that DefExpo 2022 will bring all the latest technologies under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities to the stakeholders in the aerospace & defence industry.
He said that the Indian aerospace and defence manufacturing sector is ready to soar to newer heights and it has the potential for R&D in space, cyberspace, futuristic capabilities and disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Block-chain, Virtual Reality, 3D Printing, Digital Frontier and Internet of Military Things.
Singh also reiterated the Government’s commitment to the collective security system laid down in Chapter VII of the UN Charter which deals with action with respect to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. “As a responsible nation, we wish to ensure a stable international security system through these collaborations and efforts,” he said.
On the occasion, Singh launched DefExpo 2022 website (www.defexpo.gov.in). The website provides online services to exhibitors, besides hosting informative content about the various indigenous defence products and tourism, arts and crafts of Gujarat.
Trade visitors will be able to buy their tickets from the website for visiting the show on March 10 and March 11, 2022. Free Entry is planned for the general public on March 12 and March 13. Defence publications and Media will have to register online through the website.
The event is expected to help boost investment, expand manufacturing capacities and capabilities, discover avenues for technology absorption and thus, contribute to furthering the target of USD 5 Billion defence export by 2024.
